The North Carolina Mason

January/February 2018 The North Carolina Mason Page 9 e North Carolina Officers Syndicate is an initiative to encourage officers to build their lodges into thriving places of fellow- ship, for the purposes of spiritual, personal, professional, and commu- nity development. We meet once every other month, on odd months, in a different lodge each time. is gets every lodge involved, and by the end of the year, every senior deacon and warden in our district can say they have sat in every lodge. Our mission is to: • Foster an environment of reverence for the Craft with a priority on education. • Prepare for your time in the East as Master, eliminating the idea that "you're never really ready for the East." • Earn the retention, education and support of young Freema- sons and officers. • Become aware of, active in and supportive of the seven liberal arts and sciences. • Promote the understanding that Masonic knowledge extends beyond memorizing the ritual. • Become visible in the commu- nity as Freemasons who are tolerant of all peoples. • Yield the best in each other; in and out of lodge. • Hold each other to a higher standard in all we do; as individuals and as a group. We are proud to say that we cleared all content with the Grand Lodge Committee of Masonic Education and are operating with their full approval. We have put together a stellar education program, with several keynote speakers who will be trav- eling to district 32 just to speak to these officers from our lodges. e topics include the history of Masonry in NC and a hands-on workshop for lodges to improve their communications inside and outside of the lodge. e seven liberal arts and sciences, such a vital part of our fraternity but so often forgotten after the second- degree lecture, will be the focus of a speaker who will look at the history of the arts and sciences within the Craft, and who will educate us on why they are so important to the fraternity today. e cornerstone of the syndicate is the Officers Packets we've put together for each chair in the lodge. ey were described by one past master as "the Officers Handbook on steroids." Not only do they tell you what you should be doing in your chair, but they give you perti- nent information that helps you prepare for the next one. In them, we've laid out a seven-year plan, starting with the junior stewart. We have also added three extra- curricular activities called "Syndicate Saturdays," and everyone is invited: brothers, wives, friends, family, etc. ese will include beer tastings, wine tastings and going to see the hit play, Hamilton. We also have a day set aside for "Syndicate Travel," when our group will visit Sophia #767 in Salisbury. Anyone interested in further information may contact Kenneth Lambert at 704-858-2246, by email at iamkennethlambert@gmail. com or Brian Turner at 704-340- 3979, by email at bmturner5217@ gmail.com. OUTREACH, from page 7 felt ashamed to ask for help. I assured him that he should never feel any shame – that's what we are here for. We truly want to help." e program is generally available to folks 65 and older. But every now and again, a call comes in from someone caring for a younger Mason in need. e program approved help for a 45-year-old Mason, paralyzed from the waist down, living on long-term financial assistance. A 52-year-old man with Parkinson's Disease needed some temporary help with rent and food. e program approved help for him. "I have really enjoyed working in this program," Carter says. "Some of the stories are so moving. Some of these people are so humble and too proud to ask for help, and they really need it. It feels good to help out." Another brother, a 93-year- old retired doctor, called to ask for advice: his home care aid was charging some strange fees. Carter, who was a home care aid before she entered geriatric work full time, contacted a new agency and helped him find a new aid. "We're looking at ways to expand our service for more age levels, and offer more help," she said. We all need a helping hand sometimes. rough this program, the hands of thousands of brother Masons are reaching out to help. Call the Outreach Program today! New and noteworty ideas from lodges across the state Editors Note: This is a new, periodic feature focusing on new ideas emerging from lodges across North Carolina. Got a great program to share with your brothers? Send a story to ncmason@glnc. us! IN THIS EDITION From District #32: The North Carolina Officers Syndicate Submitted by Brother Kenneth Lambert, Charles M. Setzer #693 Training in the district After much discussion, brainstorming and work, Masons across the state are about to have a new resource at their finger- tips – a set of calendars of important dates and events from e Grand Lodge, the Scottish and York Rites, the Order of the Eastern Star and Masonic Youth organizations. Standards and guide- lines for what can be added to the calendar and how calendars will be updated are being worked out – watch for news about that. In the meantime, bookmark this page and plan some visits! https://sites.google.com/view/ ncmasoniccalendar/home You can also access this under the News & Calendar of Events tab on the Grand Lodge's home page. e idea was the brainchild of District 36 Deputy Grand Master Chris Hall, who pitched the idea to past Grand Master Gene Cobb last summer, and worked with Grand Master Speed Hallman, Grand Line officers and members of the Masonic Renewal Committee to create and implement the plan. One site, many calendars

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